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Monday, July 15

Clark County’s Community Court ‘way different from regular court’, sees success in helping the homeless
It’s been one year since the launch of Clark County Community Court to connect homeless people with resources rather than punish them for living outside. The joint effort between Clark County District Court and the city of Vancouver has received Clark County mental health sales tax funds, as well as state dollars. Community Court sessions occur in a space that looks more like a classroom than a courtroom. The judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and defendant sit together at a paint-stained table in a small room at Recovery Café, a nonprofit on Fourth Plain Boulevard that helps people recover from addiction. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

‘Unprecedented’: WA transfers 43 men in juvenile detention to adult prison
Forty-three men over the age of 21 were transferred Friday to adult prisons from the juvenile detention center they were sentenced to due to safety concerns from a “rapidly growing population,” according to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families. All of those transferred have sentences that extend past their 25th birthdays and would have eventually transferred to DOC to serve the remainder of their sentences, according to a DCYF news release. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mike Siegel)

Selling Washington’s food and farm products to the world
Washington is the apple growing capital of the nation. It’s home to Walla Walla onions, Penn Cove mussels, Rainier cherries and Yakima Valley hops. While the state’s residents know these agriculture and aquaculture stars well, the rest of the country and world do not. To change that, the state Department of Agriculture is assembling a program to help promote products grown, raised, caught, baked and brewed in Washington. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (WA Dept. of Agriculture)

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Axios
How to get money to install a heat pump in Washington state

Capital Press
Officials outline Columbia River Treaty update
Washington wolf pack attacks cattle; one wolf shot
Survey: Most adult consumers support farm subsidies
Heat hammers Oregon blackberries, aids Washington grapes
17 states allege Biden opens path to unionize foreign farmworkers

Columbian
Why Washington’s wolf count is under scrutiny
Feds approve new $1.5 billion grant for I-5 Bridge replacement
Seattle Peace Park statue of Hiroshima bombing survivor stolen
Clark County’s Community Court ‘way different from regular court’, sees success in helping the homeless

Everett Herald
Everett council locks in building heights for Park District (Fosse)
Lake Stevens fight to take over sewer district could end soon
Do plastic bans work? Local waste experts say it’s too soon to know
Beautiful but deadly: Drownings common at Eagle Falls, other local waters
Comment: Navy’s commitment to Everett homeport ironclad

News Tribune
A plus for electric buses: ‘They smell better.’ Pierce Transit gets big grant to buy more
Tacoma approves $4.6M for ‘homeless encampment mitigation.’ What will that pay for?
When will Tacoma’s Old City Hall open for business? Here’s an update on landmark’s rehab

Puget Sound Business Journal
Kiewit, Sound Transit still sorting out who will pay for I-90 flub
These WA cities rank among the most expensive for senior housing
Umpqua Bank business survey reveals trends and priorities for Puget Sound decision-makers
Negotiations over I-90 light rail ‘construction challenges’ continue, Sound Transit director says

Seattle Times
Why some WA universities are seeing a drop in enrollment
Regional homelessness efforts need success, but job tougher than ever
Black women employed by King County report lower pay, discrimination
Seattle City Light rates to increase as utility struggles with supply, demand
‘Unprecedented’: WA transfers 43 men in juvenile detention to adult prison
Comment: Couples and families need insurance coverage for therapy
Comment: What Seattle can learn from Boston and Detroit to decrease gun violence

Spokesman Review
EWU rebrands itself polytechnic, while shifting its definition
Expand SNAP or hike crop prices? Congress is locked in a farm bill fight.

Washington Post
Judge dismisses classified documents case against Trump
Wait, does America really still employ a ton of news reporters?
‘Everyone is drinking it’: Why this type of ‘forever chemical’ seems to be everywhere

WA State Standard
Selling Washington’s food and farm products to the world

Yakima Herald-Republic
Human trafficking prevalent in Washington, but precise numbers hard to find

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New audit shows where drug overdoses, crime are the worst in Seattle
State department transfers 43 young men from juvenile to adult jails in Washington
Seattle restaurant owner responds to ire sparked by ‘living-wage’ surcharge after viral receipt

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Eight injured after bus crashes into Renton ravine
Parking rates are changing around Seattle starting July 15

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Fire at Pierce County recycling center caused ‘toxic smoke’
Kittitas County Jail first in WA to implement new inmate health monitoring system
Washington leaders condemn political violence after assassination attempt on Trump
Pierce County to improve road, driver safety using “SmartSigns” with real-time feedback

KNKX Public Radio
Green invasion hits Orcas Island’s Cascade Lake
‘Salmon Wars’ podcast documents Northwest tribes’ ongoing plight
Controversy arises over way Pierce County doles out homelessness aid
Ruling on homelessness raises the risks for domestic violence survivors, experts say

KUOW Public Radio
Robots are helping build new apartments in Seattle
Seattle-area grocery workers ‘flabbergasted’ by Kroger-Albertsons sales plan
Sex abuse survivors ask Vatican to investigate Seattle Archdiocese as Washington’s lawsuit fails

KXLY (ABC)
‘It makes me feel absolutely abandoned.’ City of Pullman construction impacting local downtown businesses

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Annual report: Bellingham, Whatcom County see drop in crime reported in 2023

Crosscut
Could B.C.’s safe drug supply experiment work in Washington? (Goodman)
What’s back, on hold six weeks after Seattle library cyberattack?

Washington Observer
School administrators get out early with a $1 billion budget boost request

Friday, July 12

Seattle launches initiative to reduce gun violence
Seattle, King County and others announced the launch Wednesday of a 100-day initiative to educate and support teens and others who are most at risk of gun violence. King County pledged $1.6 million to expand community-led violence intervention programs, amp up a public awareness campaign on gun violence prevention and responsible gun ownership and contribute to a Harborview Medical Center violence prevention program. Continue reading at Axios. (Aïda Amer)

WA adopts landfill rules to combat methane leaks
New rules intended to keep a tighter lid on methane gas leaking from the state’s landfills as food and garbage decompose went into effect last month. The state Department of Ecology estimates the new rules will affect 26 landfills, around half of those in the state, and will decrease landfill-related methane emissions by around 1.6 million metric tons a year. That would be a 38% reduction, according to environmental nonprofit Industrious Labs. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Kitsap launches youth opioid prevention program
As concerns about adolescent opioid use have grown across Washington, Kitsap County has launched a youth-oriented opioid prevention program using funds received from its participation in a settlement between the state and three companies who help fuel the opioid epidemic. The new Youth Opiate Prevention Program will work alongside school districts and other providers to distribute opioid education messaging and introduce science-based prevention strategies to both youth and caregivers. Continue reading at The Kitsap Sun.

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Axios
Seattle launches initiative to reduce gun violence

Bainbridge Island Review
VMFH plans hybrid emergency department in Port Orchard

Capital Press
Washington raspberry industry hopeful for harvest gains
Report revives talk of mandatory riparian buffers in Washington

Columbian
A dozen wildfires are burning across Washington
Richland condemns hate-filled antisemitic flyers left in mailboxes, driveways
Fire districts in Clark County warn of cuts amid rising call volumes, operation costs
Can Eastern WA nuclear workers raise safety issues without retaliation? Feds concerned

Everett Herald
Come fall, Monroe students must silence their cellphones in class

Federal Way Mirror
The quest for more accessibility at Federal Way parks
Lakehaven Water and Sewer District settles penalty for sewage spills

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap launches youth opioid prevention program

News Tribune
These Olympians in the 2024 Paris Games have ties to Washington state
Death at Tacoma park culvert wasn’t the first. It’s long been targeted for replacement

Peninsula Daily News
Department of Revenue to host tax workshop
Port of Port Townsend commissioners approve Short’s Farm plan
Port Angeles Port working to update its recreation, public access plan

Puget Sound Business Journal
VC funding in Seattle drops to 2016 low

Seattle Times
WA adopts landfill rules to combat methane leaks
How 5 King County cities are reimagining care for people in crisis
New recommendations for tackling fentanyl, crime on Seattle streets

Spokesman Review
New variant, updated vaccine: Coronavirus is back, but it never even left
‘Not just a tool, but a symbol’: UW Medicine celebrates first day of school with stethoscope ceremony

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
West Seattle businesses hold rally ahead of light rail decision
New audit shows where drug overdoses, crime are the worst in Seattle
King County’s youth diversion program draws scrutiny from councilmember
New work group tasked with finding solutions to curb growing crowds at SEA Airport

KNKX Public Radio
Higher tolls to begin in August on State Route 520 bridge
Opened with optimism, some residents struggle at Chief Seattle Club Native housing project

KUOW Public Radio
Conflict and confusion after state suspends intake for convicted juveniles
Mental health pilot program at Seattle schools is working, but challenges remain
Seattle affordable housing providers face operating troubles as mental health crisis grows
AI brings soaring emissions for Google and Microsoft, a major contributor to climate change

Web

MyNorthwest
Pioneer fire, burning since June 8, only 14% contained

The Urbanist
Coalition Urges Bellevue City Council to Ramp Up Road Safety Spending

Thursday, July 11

Washington issues statewide burn ban amid record heat wave
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources issued a burn ban on all the forest land it controls across the state, effective Wednesday, July 10. The ban, which runs through Sept. 30, was enacted in response to the heat wave that’s hit much of Washington over the past week…The ban covers “burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes, and prescribed burns,” according to the DNR’s news release. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (WSDOT)

Spokane Public Schools to ban cellphone use in classrooms
Spokane Public Schools will ban cellphone use in classrooms next year. The Spokane School Board on Wednesday reviewed its districtwide procedure detailing student cellphone use, advising the district to adopt a more stringent and comprehensive policy for use in classrooms. The district plans to implement the proposal before school starts in September, superintendent Adam Swinyard said. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Colin Mulvany)

Housing discrimination complaints fell sharply in Washington last year
Complaints from people who say they are being discriminated against in the housing market declined in Washington last year, but remained at an all-time high nationwide. It’s the third year in a row that the national record for the complaints has been broken, according to a new report from the National Fair Housing Alliance. In Washington, there were 347 total complaints of housing discrimination. The most being for discrimination against people with disabilities. That’s down nearly 56% from 787 last year. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Associated Press
Political ads on social media rife with misinformation and scams, new research finds

Axios
Washington sees human smuggling spike, feds say
Biden plan requires hospitals to improve maternal care

Capital Press
‘Excessive heat warning’ not likely to harm Northwest wheat crop
Above-average Walla Walla sweet onion crop, but ‘sticker shock’ at stores
Biden, Trudeau announce preliminary agreement on Columbia River Treaty

Columbian
Providers of services to homeless people in Clark County struggle
Clark County school districts see high superintendent turnover due to fatigue, uncertainty
Heat wave threatens Clark County’s homeless community; outreach workers deliver water, supplies
Reported crime falls in Vancouver, Clark County, but public perception doesn’t reflect it, police chief says

Everett Herald
Broadband coming to these rural Snohomish County locales
Kroger and Albertsons plan to sell these 19 Snohomish County grocers

The Inlander
Smells Like Centrist Spirit: Nirvana co-founder is forming a moderate political party in Washington state

News Tribune
Republicans stymie bid to make it easier to open homeless shelters in Pierce County
‘Highly flawed’? Controversy arises over way Pierce County doles out homelessness aid
‘Do not start a fire outside.’ Washington issues statewide burn ban amid record heat wave
Are changes coming to your grocery store? What latest Kroger-Albertsons news could mean
Are you allowed to bury your pet in your backyard in Washington? Here’s what the law says
Car thefts up, violent crime down in Washington last year, new law enforcement report says
Opinion: Don’t deter the huddled masses. Deter private prison kleptocrats who profit off them
Opinion: Pierce County AIDS Foundation lost your trust. We’re sorry. Here’s what comes next

Peninsula Daily News
OlyCAP to launch income program

Puget Sound Business Journal
Northgate Station mixed-use project breaks ground
Microsoft, Apple drop OpenAI board observer seats
Boeing deliveries pick up as company grapples with fresh challenges

Seattle Times
U.S.-Canada reach deal on Columbia River Treaty
What would it cost to make South Seattle light rail crossings safe?
Record sockeye salmon run on Columbia now threatened by hot water
Seattle, King County, community leaders launch plan to combat gun violence
Groups sue to restore endangered species protection for U.S. northern Rockies wolves

Spokesman Review
Spokane heat wave breaks heat records three days in a row
Spokane Public Schools to ban cellphone use in classrooms
As hot weather persists, Washingtonians can no longer burn outside
Providence to close children’s inpatient psychiatric center at Sacred Heart
Greenacres Park in Spokane Valley defaced with racist, white supremacist messages
Developers are planning Kendall Yards’ tallest building near the Monroe Street Bridge
Comment: Faith and Values: Church’s apology for involvement with Native boarding schools is too little too late

Washington Post
Relieving the growing burden of medical debt
IRS reports collecting $1 billion from rich households’ back taxes
Biden unveils $1.7 billion to boost EV production at U.S. auto factories
The U.S. has a plan to protect workers from heat. Here’s who would be safeguarded.
Inflation dropped more than expected in June, and economists say Fed could cut rates in September

WA State Standard
Housing discrimination complaints fell sharply in Washington last year
More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
High wildfire danger prompts burn ban on all DNR land in Washington
Bail set at $2 million for Alderwood Mall shooting suspect after re-arrest
WSP asks for public’s help in finding suspect who threw bricks at vehicles on I-90

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New toll rates for SR 520 bridge to begin August 15
House approves bills that aim to roll back efficiency standards for refrigerators, dishwashers

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Police watchdog heads ignored complaints against former Chief Adrian Diaz: letter to council

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane BIPOC-owned businesses receive over $170,000 in funding
Is voter fraud a valid concern for mail-in ballots? Election researchers say no

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Intelligent robotic sorting cuts landfill waste, risk to human workers

Crosscut
Burn ban issued for Washington forest lands through Sept. 30

MyNorthwest
Burien school fire now being investigated as arson, latest in series of statewide fires
Washington crime report: Hate crimes, youth offenses rise; officer staffing still low

The Urbanist
Policy Lab: We Want Bread, and Paid Vacation Too!
Seattle’s Dual Dispatch Civilian Crisis Responder Program Expands, Despite Obstacles

Wednesday, July 10

WA abortion clinics scramble to care for out-of-state patients. How far are they traveling?
For decades patients have come to Washington for abortions from other Northwest states, including those where rural residents might not have had access close by to abortion services. But since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, the number of abortions performed in Washington has increased as more people from out-of-state seek services. And there is some data that shows it now takes longer on average to get an abortion in Washington. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

Seattle OKs incentives for developers turning offices into housing
Seattle will soon exempt conversion projects from certain building regulations and fees that apply to other types of development. Among them: the Mandatory Housing Affordability program, or MHA, the city policy that requires developers to set aside affordable apartments or pay toward an affordable housing fund. If successful, the new effort could bring hundreds more apartments to central Seattle neighborhoods such as downtown. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert )

Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might
For decades, states have relied on gas taxes to provide much of the money to maintain roads and bridges. But as cars become more fuel efficient, and some Americans switch to electric vehicles, state leaders say the gas tax won’t pay the bills for much longer. Cities and counties in Washington state also have asked for help, and some local leaders have asked state lawmakers to consider a retail delivery fee — or to authorize cities to collect one. State lawmakers commissioned an analysis, published last month, looking at the potential for such a program. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Nam Y. Hu)

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Axios
Crime fell in Washington state last year

Bellingham Herald
WA abortion clinics scramble to care for out-of-state patients. How far are they traveling?
‘It’s 86 degrees in here’: Affordable housing residents call for action amid Bellingham heat wave

Capital Press
EPA: Season between spring and fall frosts growing

Columbian
West Nile virus is back in Eastern WA. People and horses should take these precautions
Young gay Latinos see rising share of new HIV cases, leading to call for targeted funding
‘Most of our snow is already gone,’ Washington climatologist says; recent heat wave had little impact

The Daily News
Longview to focus capital funds on easy fixes
Kelso to review possible updates to residential building regulations

Everett Herald
Crime down in Everett in 2023, new report says
Inslee energized from visit to Everett fusion firms
Comment: Comment: Public’s safety requires new investments for efforts (Peterson)

News Tribune
Tacoma Public Schools leaders went on a $4,600 Suncadia retreat. Was it ‘frivolous’?
Is it legal to use your phone at a red light in Washington State? Here’s what the law says
Opinion: The Supreme Court is wrong on homelessness. You can’t criminalize people for existing

Port Townsend Leader
Mayor: Rezoning golf course would help address housing

Puget Sound Business Journal
Cities betting on incentives to fuel downtown comeback
SBA sent thousands of PPP loans to collections without notice
Kroger identifies WA stores it will sell as part of Albertsons deal
Seattle makes it easier to turn commercial buildings into housing

Seattle Medium
Community Groups Come Together To Fight Food Insecurity
Seattle’s Summer Meals Program Aims To Serve Over 100,000 Free Meals To Youth
UW’s AVELA Empowers Underrepresented Students In STEM Through Mentorship And Outreach

Seattle Times
Seattle OKs incentives for developers turning offices into housing
PNW data center boom could imperil power supply within 5 years
WA Supreme Court deals blow to lawsuit seeking to protect vehicle residents

Spokesman Review
Housing inventory is slowly growing in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene
This is your body on heat: How summer weather can lead to organ failure, death
AP scores release today: Here’s how high school students are preparing for college early
Spokane County, city of Spokane to contribute additional $750,000 toward projects at Beacon Hill recreation areas

Washington Post
Surging AI energy needs could bring Three Mile Island back online
As extreme heat bakes the West, emergency helicopters struggle to fly
Many universities are abandoning race-conscious scholarships worth millions

WA State Standard
Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might (Liias)
State grants will help sustain behavioral health providers in Kitsap County

Wenatchee World
New fire burning west of Lake Wenatchee

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘I’ve never met evil like this’: Washington State Patrol trooper shot by suspect speaks in court

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Kroger, Albertsons to rid itself of 124 stores in Washington
DCYF explains decision to freeze inmate intake, prosecutors react
Bellingham elementary school has become the latest target for hate
Heat rules for outdoor workers are in force, no such rules for indoor workers
Mercer Island leaders working with residents to prevent water shortage amid hot weather

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Council greelights office-to-housing conversions, eyeing up to 2k new units

KXLY (ABC)
Moses Lake School District announces more layoffs
Two Spokane Safeway stores could be sold in Albertsons-Kroger merger
Crime rates fall in most categories across Washington last year. Hate crimes and vehicle thefts on the rise

NW Public Radio
Medication first, and then a whole-health approach
High temps could be killer as heatwave continues in the Northwest

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Multiple Haggen, Safeway stores to be sold in proposed merger
Whatcom food banks ask county for $2M in annual funding as demand escalates

Tuesday, July 9

A costly cool: Seattle residents turn to AC during heat wave
With Puget Sound region temperatures in the 90s, box fans aren’t cutting it. Residents are turning to something that was once as un-Seattle as umbrellas and honking in traffic: air conditioning. But the cost of cooling can run into the thousands of dollars for installation, and it comes with higher electricity bills. In recent years, thousands of low-income Washington residents have received free air conditioners or energy assistance through city and state programs. Government incentives have also been made available for heat pumps, which can cool homes as well as heat them but cost anywhere from $8,000 to more than $40,000 to install. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Audrey Richardson)

Scammers are at work again, WA state officials say. Here’s what you need to know
A new scam is targeting area residents, the state Department of Transportation announced via social media on Monday. The scam, apparently sent by text and email, asks those who received it to pay an unpaid balance tied to the Good to Go! program, which is a pass used by commuters who regularly cross the Tacoma Narrows bridge. WSDOT officials urge residents to not click on unknown links in emails or texts. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Getty Images)

Union votes herald a new era for workers in Washington Legislature
The stage is set for the first-ever contract negotiations between Washington state lawmakers and some of their most trusted employees. Democratic staff in the state House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to unionize Monday, joining their Republican peers in both chambers who elected to form bargaining units last month. Conversations about collective bargaining for legislative employees date back more than a decade. But it wasn’t until a 2022 law that Washington joined Oregon and Maine in offering legislative staff the opportunity to unionize. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)